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Ho Chi Minh is born
He first emerged as an outspoken voice for Vietnamese Independence. He was inspired by Bolshevik Revolution, and later become a member of the Communist Party and traveled to the Soviet Union. -
Vietnam declares independence from France, but neither France nor the United States recognize Vietnam as a separate nation
Viet Minh launched an attack on the French in Hanoi. -
The Geneva Accords cause Vietnam to be split into North and South
The 17th parallel was where the nation was divided. -
President Eisenhower declares "Domino Theory"
The idea behind the Domino Theory and Vietnam was to prevent the spread of communism from occurring. -
The Viet Minh and Ho Chi Minh defeat the French at Dien Bien Phu
Lyndon B. Johnson contacted Ho Chi Minh, personally, talking about negotiating and attacks. Ho Chi Minh responded by saying, the North Vietnamese would never negotiate under the threat of bombing. -
Ngo Dinh Diem cancels elections in Vietnam
He declined the election, in hopes of unifying the Geneva Accords, which was being voted on. -
The Nation Liberation Front is formed
It was known to replicate the success of Viet Minh's liberation from French colonial rule. -
A South Vietnamese monk sets himself on fire
The Vietnamese monk was Buddhist. He set himself on fire because he did not want to be put to flames by the enemies. He wanted to sacrifice instead of feeling like he lost. -
President Kennedy is assassinated, leading to the presidency of LBJ
Kennedy would've tried seeking some sort of negotiated deal, that would've allowed for the so-called 'neutralization of South Vietnam'. -
President Johnson claims a U.S. ship had been fired upon by the North
The U.S.S. Maddox and U.S.S. Turner Joy were the ships that had been fired upon by the North Vietnamese. In response, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin which seeked approval before launching a full-scale war in Vietnam. -
The first combat troops arrive in Vietnam
In September of 1950, was when the United States first sent military advisers. -
The United States withdraws support of Ngo Dinh Diem, leader of South Vietnam
Diem got captured along with his brother by a group of soldier, who later assassinated them both.
